Abstract: Samarium (II) iodide, a strong one-electron transfer reducing reagent, has been successfully utilized for the intermolecular and intramolecular reductive coupling reactions of ketones with nitriles. a-Hydroxy ketones, monocyclic, fused bicyclic a-hydroxy ketones and monocyclic a-amino alcohols composed of a number of substitution patterns have been prepared in good yields at room temperature or reflux under neutral conditions. The ...